Follow Up Phone Calls

A few months ago,
I posted about follow up emails.
In business follow up emails,
you should be business-like.
Emails are forever.

With follow up phone calls,
you can be less formal,
and more casual.
The trick to not being
a pain in the ass
with follow up phone calls
is
to make that call
more about them,
than you.

For example:

I’m trying to land a business gig,
and I call my placement buddy
every single week.

The first 10 minutes of the call
is about him.
I ask how his wife is doing
(she was recently in the hospital).
I ask about his kids.
I usually make a joke or two.
I pay attention to what he said
in the previous call,
and I refer to it.
I let him know that I care
(which I do but still…).

During the last 5 minutes of the call,
I ask if there’s anything I can help him with.

As far as I can tell,
he doesn’t consider me a pain in the ass
for calling every week.
He still takes my calls.
He calls me back promptly.

A good follow up call
refers to information the other person
commented on
in the previous call or meeting.
Focus on the other person first.
THEN address your wants/needs.